CHAMBERSBURG >> Preschool classes for 60 Chambersburg youngsters will begin soon, despite the continuing absence of a Pennsylvania state budget. Prior to the state's budget fiasco, Pre-K Counts classes were to begin Aug. 19. The start date now is uncertain, but the goal is Monday, Aug. 24, according to Cindy Ash, executive director for Franklin County Head Start, the organization that delivers the instruction.

However, she stresses that date is uncertain and that parents of pre-K children will be notified of precise plans.

"If we can get our teachers and classrooms ready in time now, it will be Aug. 24," Ash said Tuesday. "That's definitely tentative."

Meeting as a committee of the whole Monday evening, eight Chambersburg Area School District directors decided the importance of the program outweighs the risk of funding its cost through locally generated money, rather than waiting for elected officials to fulfill their budgetary responsibility.

Pre-K Counts is funded by $471,000 provided in Pennsylvania's budget through a grant award. The program serves children ages 3-5 that are considered at risk for the start of kindergarten, according to Ash.

Head Start is a federally funded program.

CASD Superintendent Joe Padasak recommended earlier this month that the district delay the start of Pre-K Counts until the budget impasse was resolved.

CASD Business Manager Steve Dart told the committee Monday that he was "hesitant" to commit local funds while the state budget issue remains so unsettled, but acknowledged the value of the pre-K program.

He advised that the district will have about $4 million in expenditures to pay by the end of August, but that real estate tax payments will be "rolling in" late in August as well, as the discount period comes to an end.

In response to a question from director Dana Baker, Dart said funding the pre-K program through the month of September would not create a need for the district to borrow.

CASD spokeswoman Tammy Stouffer said later that borrowing could become necessary if the budget issue is not resolved by "late fall."

"The business office continues to closely monitor cash flows for all of the district operations and obligations," she added. "The Pre-K Counts expenditures will be included in the cash flow analysis."

Other board members Monday expressed varying degrees of support for pre-K or reluctance to front fund the program. In the end Dart said he interpreted the board's consensus to be to move forward with pre-K.

Stanley Helman called Pre-K Counts an "extremely important" program, but recalled lengthy state budget delays in past years.

"In 2009 we talked about establishing a line of credit when the budget dragged out until November," Helman said. "I'd like to avoid that situation."

Carl Barton suggested that borrowing, if necessary, would be at a reasonable cost.

"The short-term interest rate is down to almost zero," he said.

Gladys Leon, the district's director of early childhood education, acknowledged the cost of pre-K — $40,000 per month — but defended its value.

"It can add up," she said, "but these kids are our students who will benefit in the long run."

Baker said the district owes it to "60 kids who badly need this" not to let Pennsylvania politicians disrupt the education process.

"This is a dilemma we face when the state gets in cat fights over the budget," he said. "We should not be held hostage by the state."

Ash said pre-K programs in Fannett-Metal and Tuscarora school districts are also set to start as a result of those districts' agreement to front fund the costs prior to state budget approval.

In the meantime, she said, all of Franklin County's federally funded Head Start programs will start Aug. 24 for children ages 0-5. However, two state-funded supplemental Head Starts for ages 3-5 will not start until the state's budget is final.